Share your favorites on Show & Tell

The 1894 Korona Hand Camera

In Cameras > Wood Cameras > Show & Tell.
Vintage & Classic Cameras86 of 1351899 Nodark Ferrotype Camera1899 Korona I & 1904 Korona VII: Gundlach Optical Company
33
Love it
1
Like it

ManikinManikin loves this.
farmladyfarmlady loves this.
Chevelleman69Chevelleman69 loves this.
vanskyock24vanskyock24 loves this.
Kimberly_MKimberly_M likes this.
jmefgjmefg loves this.
kerry10456kerry10456 loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
chrissylovescatschrissylovescats loves this.
tom61375tom61375 loves this.
mtg75mtg75 loves this.
sugargirlsugargirl loves this.
DesignerDesigner loves this.
f64imagerf64imager loves this.
AntigueToysAntigueToys loves this.
geo26egeo26e loves this.
flaskflask loves this.
LongingsLongings loves this.
trukn20trukn20 loves this.
leighannrnleighannrn loves this.
shughsshughs loves this.
egreeley1976egreeley1976 loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
bobogalbobogal loves this.
walksoftlywalksoftly loves this.
Moonstonelover21Moonstonelover21 loves this.
DrFluffyDrFluffy loves this.
BootsonBootson loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
ericevans2ericevans2 loves this.
austrohungaroaustrohungaro loves this.
vetraio50vetraio50 loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
SignaholicSignaholic loves this.
See 32 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 10 years ago

    rniederman
    (343 items)

    The short-lived and rare Korona Hand Camera (often referred incorrectly as the Milburn Korona after the maker’s name of Gustav Milburn), is considered by collectors as among the most beautiful of all 1890s American self-casing cameras. Its design and workmanship are first rate. Opening the black leather body greets the photographer with an expansive interior of highly polished mahogany, supple maroon leather bellows, and lacquered brass.

    The very first models introduced in October 1894 appear to be the only versions equipped with a shutter having an attractive aluminum face marked “Made for the Milburn Korona Company by Gundlach Optical Co.”

    The Korona Hand Camera has several distinctive features including a back that completely opens up to expose the entire ground glass; instead of the photographer having to look through a small viewing port. Additionally, two extra plate holders were held by a pair of specially designed metal brackets mounted inside of the back. This had an advantage of not having to remove the plate holders to view the ground glass. It’s a clever design and I’ve always wondered why other builders didn’t copy this design.

    The front focusing arrangement is also unique. When the camera is open, the front standard could be drawn out to a bar that was secured across the focusing rail. The bar could be preset for different types of lenses which allowed the photographer to quickly focus on a subject. Fine focusing is accomplished by turning a pinion over the top of the lens box. Milburn's intention was to copy the action of "old style portrait lenses" that had a rack and pinion movement. Another key feature of The Korona Hand Camera was a split drop bed permitting it to be folded down for using wide-angle lenses.

    Prior to founding the Milburn Camera Company, Gustav Milburn worked for Kodak as a sales manager then later joined Henry M. Reichenbach and S. Carl Passavant (both former Kodak employees) to form the Photo Materials Company (PMC) in 1891. He eventually left PMC in 1894 to establish the Milburn Camera Company where he created the first of what would later become the immensely popular Korona camera series. Barely two years later, Milburn sold his company.

    logo
    Wood Cameras
    See all
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Wood Replacement Cover
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Woo...
    $32
    J. Lancaster Le Meritoire Antique Mahogany & Brass Camera, 1889
    J. Lancaster Le Meritoire Antique M...
    $325
    Rare 5x7 Rochester Optical New Model Improved Camera Dry Plate No 2 Lens Nickle
    Rare 5x7 Rochester Optical New Mode...
    $375
    FOLDING CAMERA KODAK # 2 FOLDING POCKET A ANTIQUE CUSTOM CAMPHOR WOOD
    FOLDING CAMERA KODAK # 2 FOLDING PO...
    $170
    logo
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Wood Replacement Cover
    Polaroid SX-70 Model 2 - Walnut Woo...
    $32
    See all

    Comments

    1. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Perry!
    2. walksoftly walksoftly, 10 years ago
      This is a beautiful piece of workmanship, a work of art in itself.
      I admire the inspiration that drives people to design & build such quality pieces.
    3. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, David! ... agreed.

      Thanks, LeahGoodwin!
    4. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, aghcollect!
    5. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, vetraio50!
    6. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, austrohungaro!
    7. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Eric!
    8. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, officialfuel!
    9. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Bootson!
    10. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, DrFluffy!
    11. SEAN68 SEAN68, 10 years ago
      Hello Rob sorry im late to love your stunning and very beautiful camera:) I really love your collection:)
    12. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Sean ... no worries and always appreciate you stopping by to throw some "love" around!
    13. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Moonstonelover21!
    14. Moonstonelover21 Moonstonelover21, 10 years ago
      You are most welcome XO
    15. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, David!
    16. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, bobogal!
    17. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, blunderbuss2!
    18. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, egreeley1976!
    19. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, shughs!
    20. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, leighannrn!
    21. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, trukn20!
    22. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Phil!
    23. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Longings!
    24. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, flask!
    25. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, geo26e!
    26. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, AntigueToys!
    27. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, f64imager!
    28. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Designer!
    29. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, sugargirl!
    30. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, mtg75!
    31. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, tom61375!
    32. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, chrissylovescats!
    33. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Sean!
    34. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, kerry10456!
    35. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, jmefg!
    36. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Kimberly_M!
    37. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, vanskyock24!
    38. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, petey!
    39. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Chevelleman69!
    40. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, farmlady!
    41. rniederman rniederman, 10 years ago
      Thanks, Manikin!

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.